Koch, Sobel, Perelman to raise for Romney in the Hamptons

By MAGGIE HABERMAN

06/14/2012 11:56 AM EDT

Oil magnate and Americans for Prosperity funder David Koch steered clear of picking a presidential candidate in the primaries, despite holding a meet-and-greet event for Mitt Romney at his Hamptons home in 2010. He made clear publicly he was not backing the then-candidate in 2011.

But with the primaries now over, Koch is set to host an event for Romney in his Hamptons home on July 8 when the candidate makes a swing through the tony fundraising haven, according to invitations circulating.

Koch's event is one of at least three that Romney is doing that day. Earlier he's at an event hosted by Cliff Sobel, an ambassador to Brazil under George W. Bush, and a separate one by Ronald Perelman, the cosmetics honcho who was a John McCain booster in 2008.

In New York circles, Koch has been libertarian with his political giving — he was a major supporter of Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

It's not a surprise that he is for the Republican nominee. But Koch also had the option of staying on the sidelines as far as the campaign is concerned, and channeling his activities elsewhere (like AFP or the Scott Walker recall race).